Gasteraloe plant named ‘OVROCKS05’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Gasteraloe  plant named ‘OVROCKS05’ which is characterized by a broad ovate plant form, upright narrowly deltoid foliage that is spirally arranged in a basal rosette, a rosette which is centered with a light green general coloration that becomes progressively darker towards the outer whorls of foliage, as well as the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Gasteraloe hybrid Guillaumin.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Gasteraloe disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘OVROCKS05’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2017/2561, filed on Oct. 12, 2017, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘OVROCKS05’ originated as a naturally occurring, whole-plant mutation of an unnamed Gasteraloe hybrid plant (not patented). In March of 2013 the inventor discovered the mutation at a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, growing amongst a crop of the unnamed plant. The mutation was noted for its unique foliage and growth habit and was subsequently isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability, ‘OVROCKS05’ was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘OVROCKS05’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated in March of 2013 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. The claimed plant has since been asexually propagated by way of meristematic tissue culture propagation. Through five subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘OVROCKS05’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘OVROCKS05’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘OVROCKS05’ as a new and distinct Gasteraloe cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘OVROCKS05’ exhibits a broad ovate plant form with foliage         that is spirally arranged in a basal rosette; and     -   2. ‘OVROCKS05’ exhibits a rosette of foliage which is centered         with a light green general coloration which becomes         progressively darker towards the outer whorls of foliage; and     -   3. ‘OVROCKS05’ exhibits long, narrowly deltoid foliage which is         held upright; and     -   4. ‘OVROCKS05’ exhibits juvenile foliage towards the center of         the rosette which is light green at the base and progressively         darker green towards the apex, and densely covered with         green-white protuberances; and     -   5. ‘OVROCKS05’ exhibits dark green mature foliage towards the         outer whorls of the rosette which is densely covered with light         green protuberances.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘OVROCKS05’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 14 months old, shown planted in a 10.5 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage arrangement of ‘OVROCKS05’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘OVROCKS05’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘OVROCKS05’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in June of 2017 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 14 months old ‘OVROCKS05’ plants grown in 10.5 cm nursery containers at a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Gasteraloe which consisted of minimal overhead irrigation and fertilizer applications. No pest or disease control measures were utilized in production. Plants were grown under shade (approximately 10,000 lux) and no photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘OVROCKS05’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘OVROCKS05’ and a comparison with the unnamed plant and closest known comparator is provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a             non-branched basal rosette.         -   Plant form.—Broad ovate.         -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—13.1 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Average of 19.0 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderate.         -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting             — Approximately 4 months at 21 degrees Celsius. Crop time —             Approximately 14 months to produce a marketable plant in a             10.5 cm container.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             resistance nor susceptibility to typical Gasteraloe pests             and diseases has been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10             to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius; low             tolerance to rain; high tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a non-branching basal rosettes;             no main branches or lateral branches present. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Spirally placed in a rosette.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 38 leaves per rosette.         -   Shape.—Narrow deltoid succulent leaves.         -   Dimensions.—10.4 cm long, 3.0 cm wide, and 0.8 cm thick, on             average.         -   Aspect.—Flat.         -   Attitude.—At an average angle of 40 degrees to the soil             level.         -   Apex.—Narrow apiculate with a soft mucronate tip.         -   Base.—Broad cuneate.         -   Margin.—Finely dentate; teeth have an average length of 0.05             cm and are colored green, nearest to RHS 138C but lighter.             Margins are not undulated or lobed.         -   Texture, adaxial surface.—Glabrous and densely covered with             protuberances, presenting as orbicular dots, each             approximately 0.5 mm high and 1.2 mm in diameter.         -   Texture, abaxial surface.—Glabrous and densely covered with             protuberances, presenting as orbicular, each approximately             0.5 mm high and 1.2 mm in diameter; papilla bearing short,             soft spines towards the apex.         -   Luster, adaxial surface.—Moderately glossy.         -   Luster, abaxial surface.—Moderately glossy.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Yellow-green,             nearest to RHS 144A; nearest to in between green and             yellow-green towards the apex, RHS NN137A and 147A; fading             to greyed-green towards the base, nearest to in between RHS             193B and 193C; leaf densely covered with protuberances which             are colored green-white, nearest to RHS 157D. Juvenile             foliage, abaxial surface — Green, nearest to a mixture of             RHS 143B and 143C; darker towards the apex, nearest to RHS             N137A; fading to greyed-green towards the base, nearest to a             mixture of RHS 193B and 193C; leaf densely covered with             protuberances which are colored green-white, nearest to RHS             157D. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in             between green, RHS 139A, and greyed-green, RHS N189A, but             darker; leaf densely covered with protuberances which are             colored green-white, nearest to RHS 157D. Mature foliage,             abaxial surface — Greyed-green, nearest to RHS N189A; leaf             densely covered with protuberances which are colored green,             nearest to RHS 138B. Venation — No venation is visible.         -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile. -   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVROCKS05’ differ from the parent, an unnamed Gasteraloe plant hybrid (not patented), in the following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Comparison with the unnamed Gasteraloe plant The unnamed Characteristic ‘OVROCKS05’ Gasteraloe plant Foliage thickness. Thinner than the Thicker than parent. ‘OVROCKS05’. Foliage width. Narrower than the un- Wider than named Gasteraloe plant ‘OVROCKS05’. Foliage margins. Finely dentate with Finely dentate with more spine-like teeth fewer spine-like teeth than the unnamed than ‘OVROCKS05’. Gasteraloe plant General coloration Lighter green. Darker green. of the juvenile foliage.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVROCKS05’ differ from the commercial variety, Gasteraloe ‘WT03’ (Community Plant Variety Rights grant number 30451) in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Comparison with a comparison plant Characteristic ‘OVROCKS05’ ‘WT03’ Foliage attitude. More upright. Less upright. Foliage width. Narrower than ‘WT03’. Wider than ‘OVROCKS05’. General coloration Lighter green. Darker green. of the juvenile foliage. General coloration Light green inner whorls of Inner and outer of entire rosette. foliage, and progressively whorls are a darker green towards the consistent dark green. outer whorls. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Gasteraloe plant named ‘OVROCKS05’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 